Danny led me out to the road, running and laughing like a kid. It felt so wonderful to be with him again; I loved feeling like a child, so free and unhindered.

            "Where are we going?" I asked, gazing at him from the side.

            He slid his arm over my shoulders and kissed the top of my head.

            "To town for some soda and ice cream," he said with a grin, "at Haverford's."

            "Oh! I haven't been there in ages!" I exclaimed, happily surprised. Haverford's was this diner in town with an ice cream/soda bar in the back. We had all hung out there as kids, but soon grew out of place as the next generation shuffled in. It was wonderfully quaint, with dark hardwood floors and seemingly ancient movie posters scattered over the equally dark walls. There were some hanging lamps over table booths that provided adequate light, but it was the dingy atmosphere that made Haverford's so intriguing.

            We meandered down the road into the town and Danny let out a small chuckle.

            "What is it?" I questioned curiously.

            He surveyed the buildings and the people walking around.

            "It's exactly the same," he answered, pulling me closer to him. "Nothin' changed."

            He took my hand and pulled me down the street to the big oak doors of the diner. As we pushed through, I felt as though I had entered a time warp back to the times when coming here was the usual date for Danny and I…

~*~*~*~*~*~

            We walked through the door and took our usual seats at the bar.

            "Hey there kids," Mr. Haverford said with a big, wide smile. "What can I do for ya tonight?"

            Danny rested his elbows on the counter and thought for a second.

            "Well," he began, "I only got enough from my Pa today to get two small sundaes and some soda. Or we could get two large ice cream sodas and take care of everything…"

            He sat there on the barstool, thinking it over with care.

            "I'll have an ice cream soda then," I told the old man behind the bar.

            "And for you, Danny?" he asked patiently. "The same as the little miss?"

            Danny chuckled and nodded, embarrassed.

            Mr. Haverford walked towards the soda machine and began his work.

            "So…when's Rafe comin'?" Danny asked, fiddling with his fingers.

            "I dunno. He said eventually," I responded with a sigh. This type of thing aggravated me when I was sixteen. See, Danny and I were still only friends and he was always so fidgety whenever we went places together without my brother.

            "Oh. Ya know Suze, you're gonna have to pay me back for these sundaes eventually." He winked and shoved my shoulder good-heartedly.

            "God dammit Danny, I don't care. Why are we even here then? All you're waitin' for is Rafe, so maybe I'll just go home and leave you to your floats." I began to stand up, pissed off. I was just as good a friend to him as Rafe was, and I was getting sick of treated like an annoyance; like a charity case.

            "Aw no, come on, don't leave. I'm sorry I always do this. I just really gotta tell him somethin'. Here, look, the sodas are almost done. Will ya at least stay and drink 'em with me?" He looked desperate and, I'll admit, very sorry.

            "Just stop acting like you're babysitting me. I'm your friend too, you know."

            "What's this? A dispute?" Mr. Haverford came over with our ice cream sodas and leaned on the counter. He pointed at Danny. "Mister, you better treat you pretty little girlfriend better or she's gonna leave you for someone else. Isn't that right, Susanna?"

            "I'm not his girlfriend," I said, seething.  It's not that I didn't want to be. He just didn't seem to notice me like that. He looked down at the floor and grabbed his soda, not saying a word.

            "Well, that's just a damn pity," Mr. Haverford responded with a wink, walking away.

            "You sure sounded angry," Danny mumbled, sipping through his straw.

            "Well why should he assume that? You don't even act like you like me at all," I answered with a solemn shrug.

            "You're one of my best friends, and you know that. And I like you plenty, if you must know. Otherwise, why would I ever come here with you alone? Huh?"

            "I dunno."

            "That's right. There ain't no reason except I like hangin' out with you. So there." He poked me in the side with a big grin on his face, causing me to nearly topple off of the stool.

            "I'm sorry I was such a bitch. I mean, you bought me dessert after all."

            Danny looked up and smiled at me, then turned his attention to something behind me.

            "That guy over there sure won't stop lookin' at you," he muttered, frowning.

            "What's wrong with that?"

            "He shouldn't be doin' it, 'specially not to you."

            "Why? Are you implying something here? Am I really that unattractive?" I asked, feigning heartbreak.

            "He just shouldn't. You're a respectable girl. He's not supposed to be ogling you so bad. I'm gonna over there and set him straight." Danny stood up, fists clenched.

            "Jesus, Walker, calm down! Sit now, and finish this damn soda. Let them stare; it doesn't bother me. It's not like I want them to or anything, but I wouldn't touch the likes of them for all the money in the world so they can stare all they like."

            "You wouldn't go out with any of them?"

            "Heck no."

            "Why not?"

            "First of all, wouldja listen to them over there? Hootin' and hollering like it's a damn circus in here. They're too immature for my likes. Secondly, look at the way they eye me. Like I'm something to play with and toss out when they're done. I want someone who loves me. And someone I can sit with and be quiet with and talk to. I wouldn't be able to talk to that guy over there about anything. I mean, I can talk to you. That's talking. But them? All they do is grunt."

            Danny looked at me, his eyes sparkling. He was awful handsome, and I knew it. Lord did I know it.

            "So…are you coming with me and Rafe tonight?" he asked shyly, his eyes on my finger as I traced circles on the wooden counter.

            "Where?"

            "Well, we're goin' over to Stanley Road. Rafe wants to drink. I just wanna watch the stars a bit."

            "Will there be any meteors, like those ones we saw a few weeks ago?" I questioned excitedly.

            "Maybe, if we're lucky. But you have to come, Susie. It'll be boring without you."

            "Oh really?" I smiled teasingly.

            "No, honestly…I'll be by myself otherwise. You know how Rafe is when he drinks…he'll wander off somewhere and leave me alone. And I thought maybe I could be alone with you for a while. I like talkin' to you."

            I was nearly exploding with the urge to scream out a resounding "YES!" when I noticed Rafe sauntering in the door.

            "I'd love to come," I whispered, placing my hand gently on top of his. It was a friendly gesture, but I felt him shiver slightly.

            "Hey you guys!" Rafe bellowed, pulling up a chair to our sides. "I got some of Pa's liquor for tonight!" He grinned devilishly and pulled it out of his shirtsleeve.

~*~*~*~*~*~

            "Hey, you awake?" Danny whispered into my ear, stirring me back into reality. I had become lost in a daydream about times past, specifically the day we had sat in this very diner and initiated what would later that night evolve into our first romantic encounter.

            "This place brings back so much," I laughed, squeezing his hand as we walked up to the bar.

            An old man hobbled away from the soda machine and stared at us curiously.

            "Well, I don't believe it," he gasped, a huge smile spreading across his worn-down face. "Danny Walker and Susie McCawley? Little Danny Walker and Susie McCawley?"

            "None other," Danny responded with a grin.

            "Why boy, I thought you'd gone and died!"

            "No sir, just a mistake in the papers. I'm home now, and with my girl."

            "Why, I haven't seen you since the week you left for that darn Air Force. It's been a long time, Danny, I'm glad to see you back here."

            "And you too, Mr. Haverford. I've missed you're ice cream sodas," Danny said, laughing, as they embraced over the bar.

            "Well let me get you both one on the house then," he exclaimed, calling to a young boy behind the counter to fix us our sodas. "And you, Susanna, how have you been holding up these days?"

            "Oh, all the more better now that Danny's come back to me," I said happily, kissing Danny on the cheek.

            Mr. Haverford hooted.

            "You two are just as darlin' as you used to be. But you're alright now, what with Jack dyin' on ya? He was a good fella." He shook is head in sympathy.

            I looked up at Danny, who had a strange look on his face. He looked angry at the mention of Jack, and rightfully so.

            I stood up on my toes and leaned into him.       

            "Don't think about it now," I whispered into his ear soothingly. "We'll talk about it later, okay? Right now, I want to be here with you. I don't want to think about Jack."

            He flinched at the mention of the name and nodded.

A/N: ~whew~, I'll try and make that chapter a little bit better when I have some time. Did you all like it? Next, Danny and Susie talk about Jack and Danny expresses his feelings considering it. I need help with ideas about where to go from there. Should someone get sick and die? I need ideas! PLEASE, if anybody wants to help me out, feel free to e-mail me ideas at Luxieb73@aol.com    Thanks everybody!!! PLEASE REVIEW! Remember, it only takes a second. AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!! (even though it's Christmas eve right now)